Constructing a Statement of Advice (SoA): A story runs through it
Kayaking on the Maribyrnong River three years ago with a friend, a financial adviser, our conversation turned to work. We spoke of some of the less than favourable qualities of Statements of Advice (SoAs) – lengthy and repetitious, “clunky” to read and non-specific. We asked: ideally, if an SoA contained nothing else, what would you
August 21, 2015
William Blair earns Lonsec rating
The William Blair Emerging Markets Leaders Fund (the Fund) has been rated by investment services research house, Lonsec. In its Fund Review, Lonsec said the Fund’s strengths include, “the Manager’s history of managing emerging markets portfolios”, “a quality portfolio management team, motivated analyst research pool, disciplined stable investment process” and the Manager’s “track record of
August 21, 2015
Merit Wealth Financial Services pens exclusive software agreement with Midwinter Financial Services
Midwinter Financial Services has today announced their software agreement with Merit Wealth Financial services, planning to roll out AdviceOS to the firm’s adviser network on the 30th of August 2015. Merit Wealth opted for Midwinter’s software across the dealer group, utilising the universal use of AdviceOS to optimise their advice generation process and simplify reporting
August 21, 2015
A risk advice specialist opens its eyes to opportunities in the direct channel
A hybrid model of direct and brokered life insurance distribution adopted by some risk providers in England has attracted the attention of Wayne Handley, managing director, Bombora Advice. The head of the risk-focused Australian Financial Services (AFS) licensee observed the model being used by a number of insurers during a UK study tour he conducted
August 20, 2015
Senior financial planner wins 2015 Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) scholarship
A senior financial planner with McPhail HLG Financial Planning, David Graham, is the winner of the 2015 BlackRock/PortfolioConstruction Forum Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) scholarship for retail research analysts and consultants. The scholarship, valued at about $7000, enables Graham to undertake the CIMA course – the core program of the Investment Management Consultants Association Australia
August 20, 2015
Standard Life Investments receives first funds from Alpha Fund Managers
Standard Life Investments, the global asset manager, announced today that multi-manager Alpha Fund Managers has become the first Australian investor in the Standard Life Investments Absolute Return Global Bond Strategies Trust (ARGBS). Matthew Newham, Investment Director Wholesale Business, Standard Life Investments, said: “We are delighted with Alpha Fund Managers’ allocation to ARGBS. This recognises the
August 19, 2015
Value of financial planning shines through in study of super fund members’ readiness for retirement
Receiving financial advice is a critical factor in addressing the issue of adequacy of retirement savings and confidence in the superannuation system, according to new research published by State Street Global Advisors. The Australian Retirement Vision Survey, published this week, shows there is a link between receiving financial advice and confidence in achieving retirement objectives.
August 18, 2015
Benefits for financial planners from managed accounts centre on strategy, governance and valuation
The benefits to financial planners from using a managed account to deliver an investment solution fall under the three broad headings, a workshop and webinar produced by the Institute of Managed Account Professionals (IMAP) has heard. Dan Powell, head of platform sales and relationship management for managed account provider OneVue told the workshop that a
August 18, 2015
Bull markets don’t fizzle out, they go ‘pop’: Why we’re not at the top yet
TS Eliot was briefly a banker but not an expert on markets. No investor would have said “this is the way the world ends, not with a bang but with a whimper”. Not the investment world. Bull markets don’t fizzle out, they go pop, which is why I don’t think we’re at the top yet. Maturing
August 18, 2015
Cromwell fund added to BT Wrap
The Cromwell Phoenix Core Listed Property Fund (“the Fund”) continues to build a strong following and has now been listed on the leading BT Wrap investment platform. Cromwell Funds Management Director Michael Blake said the listing on BT Wrap was further evidence of increasing demand from investors for the product. “The Fund is proving extremely
August 18, 2015
Shock waves from the rumbling Renminbi
The market will calm down after the biggest currency devaluation by China in almost two decades which has sent shock waves through global commodity, interest rate and stock markets, says George Lucas, managing director Instreet Investment. “The 3 per cent drop in the currency last week is relatively small for a developing country trying to
August 18, 2015
